GAME DAY PROTOCOLS

• You owe it to your team to make it to every game you possibly can. If you can’t make it to a game, call me at least a day in advance (302-453-0859 [home]) and let me know.
• Eat a good breakfast (cereal, fruit, etc.--no junk food!) at least one hour before the start of the game.
• Wear your game shirt. Pull your socks up over your shin-guards. This is a team to be proud of, so please dress and act that way.
• Bring plenty to drink (preferably plain water) between quarters. If you use Gatorade or some other sports drink, dilute it with some extra water. We will usually have a quick snack at halftime during late-morning games.
• Be at the field for warm-ups half an hour before game time. When you start to feel a little nervous, just remember that everyone else is nervous too.
• Don't pester the coaches about what position you'll play or when. We know that you want to play as many minutes as possible. We will be following a planned line-up in which everyone gets equal game time, and everyone gets a chance to play different positions.
• Each half is 25 minutes. You will typically play at least two quarters, and you owe it to your team to play the best you possibly can when you are on the field. Always play to win, and, even more important,...
• practice good sportsmanship!  Trash-talking, rudeness to the referee or any other bad sportsmanship will get you taken out of the game. Never criticize a teammate.
• Games will have a 10-minute half-time break At the start of the break, grab your water and start drinking, and gather quickly to hear line-up changes and other instructions.
• When you are on the field, don't be distracted by shouts and cheers from your family and other spectators. Just stay focused on the game and think for yourself.  I won't give many on-field instructions during the game. If necessary, I will discuss your play with you when you come off.
• When you are on the sidelines, study the game, particularly the position you expect to be playing next time you go on. When the opponents have the ball, are we covering the right opponents? When we have the ball, are we getting open for passes? Are we making smart passes instead of getting tackled and losing the ball?
• At the end of the game, we gather on the sideline for a cheer. Then we cross the field and shake our opponents' hands.

--John Mackenzie